Renewal and regrowth: how a glorious fig tree became a metaphor for my life

When they lopped the tree, not a branch nor a leaf remained – just the trunk, like an exposed nerve that had been brutally hacked off. It looked how I felt

From Hemingway to Haruki Murakami – great writers’ tips about working from home

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing many of us to work from home. There’s plenty to learn from the people who’ve always worked in isolation

‘People need to be supportive’: communities gather online in the coronavirus crisis

From swapping supplies to helping elderly neighbours, Australians are coordinating online to seek solace and share practical tips

The family lockdown guide: how to emotionally prepare for coronavirus quarantine

What can parents and children do to survive self-isolation, and each other?

Safe sex beyond STIs: chlamydia can be easy to treat – a flu can stick around for weeks

Single, sexually active people are used to talking about STIs, but we owe it to our partners to disclose our common colds as well

Quitting lattes: a small change that saves cash, calories and carbon

Retraining your palate to accept black coffee takes longer than you might expect, but the benefits can be manifold

My cancer recovery was relatively smooth. Why do I feel in limbo?

There is no reliable ratio between events and how they affect us – all you can do is reflect on how they’ve changed you

‘The way of the tired person’: life rules for the perpetually exhausted

Sometimes weariness is inevitable, but as one chronic fatigue sufferer has learned, when you can’t hit snooze on life there are ways of getting through it

Brazilian jiu-jitsu: ‘A soul-destroying, ego-clipping sport that’s sunk deep into my veins’

With its strange outfits and obsessive fans, Brazilian jiu-jitsu can seem cult-like to those on the outside, but for practitioners the martial art is surprisingly compassionate

Fire anxiety: tips for managing your mental health during and after a crisis

Even for those who are not under immediate threat, the psychological impacts of catastrophe can linger